Philosophy | Cathy C. Hall Writes

I reckon it’s about time for me to take those dreams and make something happen in 2011. But before I can get started on the new year’s To Do list, I like to take a look back and see what I did right. And okay, what I did wrong, too. It’s all about reckoning…the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Yikes. Let’s start with the good. That always cheers me up…

In the Business sector, I ordered new business cards. Wheee! In fact, I ordered them twice. So, it’s a good thing that I really like my new business cards. And I worked hard in marketing, doing that whole social networking thing. Mostly, I figured out Twitter. I’m going to count that as good, too.

Under the Education goals, I wanted to get back to reading, specifically catching up with the hottest YA out there. I read 52 books (if you count the 6 picture books and 4 early chapter books)! Still, I know all about The Hunger Games trilogy and believe me, that’s a very good thing.

Organization-wise, I kept my submissions and finances up-to-date every month. The Beneficent Mr. Hall, otherwise known as the Tax Man, was mightily impressed with my good bookkeeping.

As for my Writing, I achieved a 50% rate of acceptance in the Non-fiction department. That’s good, right?

But I only sold (or placed in a contest) about 30% of the fiction I wrote. The moral of that story (to use a writer pun) is that non-fiction is easier to sell than fiction. Or I write better essays than short stories. Um, I’m going to go with the former premise.

Anyway, from a Writing viewpoint, nothing really bad popped out. Unless you count that stinky story I wrote waaaay back in January. Which I’m not.

But I had an Education goal to read at least one of my writing books per month. Honestly, I have a bookshelf full. In January, I read the The 2010 Children’s Writers and Illustrators Market. In February, I skimmed a few Writer’s Digests from 2007. So, that was pretty bad.

And in my Business goals, I determined that I should update my website quarterly. And I should. But I didn’t get around to any updating till December. Pfffft. That was bad, too.

Moving on to Organization…I don’t even want to tell you how many times I remembered to back up my files on the little flash drive thingie. (Okay, I remembered once. I’m like that little girl with the curl in the middle of her forehead. When I’m bad, I’m horrid. But I did email my manuscript to myself everytime I made major revisions, so I have an inbox of almost 52 emails marked: Pen Pal, Final. Or Pen Pal, Final, FINAL. Or Pen Pal, FINAL. Part IV.)

And now, you’re probably wondering about the ugly side of 2010. I had a few goals relating to the effects of the writing life and the need for lifestyle changes in exercise and diet in order to reverse or at least ameliorate said effects.

Hmmmm. I reckon I’ll just keep those notes to myself.

(P.S. Did you achieve your goals for 2010? Before making your 2011 goals, why not take a few minutes to review the past year? Pat yourself on the back for what you accomplished, and consider whether that goal you didn’t accomplish is really that important to achieving your writing dreams. Then make a new To Do list and get started on your 2011 dream. And may your year be all good!)

The chance of celebrating a white Christmas in Georgia is about as good as…well, a snowball’s chance you-know-where. But lo! Late Christmas afternoon, snow fell upon my sweet, Southern homeland. A holiday dream come true!

Which brings me to that time of year, grasshopper, when the old year is taking its last gasps and the smell of the brand-spanking New Year is in the air. It’s when I’m sitting in my favorite, over-stuffed chair, the Christmas tree leaning a little to the right, peppermint pieces stuck in the carpet, that I take to pondering dreams.

Sure, some folks call ’em “resolutions.” Others might even call ’em “goals.” But I like to ponder dreams. Dreams of getting a contract for that book I’ve been writing all year long. Dreams of making enough income from my writing to come out in the plus column. Dreams of hearing the words “Newbery Award” and Cathy C. Hall in the same sentence.

I mean, what’s the use of dreaming if you can’t dream big? Of course, I don’t just ponder and dream. I make lists of Things To Do to get my big-time dreams on track. Still, pondering, dreaming, and making lists is not going to get you far along the track. Don’t quit there, grasshopper. Follow through and do the important stuff. Write. Read. Write. Revise. Write. Rewrite. Day by day, month in, month out. January till December.

Because dreams can come true, grasshopper. I’ve got the pictures to prove it.